A few months ago I featured mid-century signs in Oakland and Berkeley and the sign below missed the cut. This cool 3-D mid-century sign is on MacArthur Boulevard in Oakland. (In the Laurel district)
Making a Difference in Oakland
My dear friend Claudia Miller is the Regional Development Manager for First Place For Youth. Founded in 1998, First Place was the first organization in Northern California to provide affordable housing and supportive services to former foster youth, and today is considered a national model for providing permanent housing for high risk youth. Over the past two years, I have heard Claudia's stories about the kids and young adults that are a part of this organization and I have heard her determination to raise money for this important cause.
Yesterday First Place for Youth hosted a private showing of The Blind Side at the Jack London Theatre in Oakland. This movie depicts a teenager lost in the foster care system who ultimately becomes a successful adult. About 100 Oakland residents and friends of First Place showed up to support the cause. This holiday season as people are cutting back on the extravagant gifts, First Place for Youth is a great gift alternative. Donate any amount of money in a friend or family members name. Visit First Place for Youth online.
Growing up with my entire family intact, I have taken for granted my privilege of family support. Every year I was able to go the school in my neighborhood, maintain the same friends over the years and enjoy trading school pictures with my buddies. Often foster children are moved around, (on average 5 times), have difficulty getting into school because of lost birth certificates and often no one purchases their school photographs. Last week, Oakland resident and photographer Christina Koci-Hernandez donated her time and took exquisite photos of the kids in the program. Click Here and check out Christina's amazing slide show!
Home Decorating 101 with Oakland Designer Laura Martin Bovard
Boy if I knew then what I know now... Being the shopaholic that I am, I have purchased furniture and home accessories with many different motives. The red sofas because I loved the lines and color, the oak mission desk furniture, because it was quality furniture and I was just starting out and didn't have an overall concept of what I wanted my house to be, the maple dining table with the veneer top, to the dozens of vases and art pieces that just called my name... Now I have a house full and wish I had an overall plan before I started.
As I looked at my home office space I realized that I need more storage and thought about asking my husband for an armoire for Christmas and then I thought, what would Laura do? Laura Martin Bovard is an Oakland based Designer who creates spaces that her clients love to live in. I have always steered away from Interior Designers as I thought I couldn't afford one, so I talked to Laura and asked her for some advise and realized that I had it all wrong.
Q: How do you advise your clients to start the decorating process?
A: One piece of advice I always offer my clients is to keep a folder with images from magazines or pictures of artwork you feel inspired by and collect them as you go. Whether you work with a decorator or just do it on your own it’s always good to have a place to refer back to when beginning the decorating or remodeling process. With so much exposure to what’s new and in fashion and it can be easy to get side tracked and end up feeling confused. Always good to have the general feeling tone established so that you can keep your focus on how you want your space to look. Having the design folder allows you to go back and see the direction you want to keep. That way you can say to yourself, “would this pillow that I love while I’m here in the store actually do what it needs to add to the feeling of warmth and comfort I want my room to have?” or “will this tile go with the counter material?”
Q: I have always thought I couldn't afford a decorator, what are your thoughts? A: Sometimes I hear that my clients don’t perceive that they can afford to work with a decorator but in fact in the end we can help them save money by coming up with a plan and by shopping smart. We have resources that most people don’t have access to and often get them at dealer pricing which allows us in many cases to re-sell them at below retail pricing. You can think of it this way…the money you save on making purchases through us goes to the design fees which is the time we spend coming up with and implementing a cohesive look that reflects who you are.
Q: What is it like to work with a decorator? A: When you work with a decorator it’s like having a coach tell you yes, that size will work or no, that finish won’t flow so you avoid making costly mistakes. Bringing a decorator in before making expensive decisions is very often where clients end of saving the most money. I can’t tell you how many kitchen and bath remodels I’ve seen go awry when people chose materials that simply don’t go together or don’t fit the style of the house. On the other hand a couple of hours with someone who has a good eye for design and experience can help you get through a remodel or a decorating without wasting time and money.
Q: Do you help clients with small projects, such as paint color consulting ? A: Yes, for less of a commitment but one that still nets good results we are able to come in for a few hours and help our clients freshen up their space without purchasing new items by styling with a designer’s eye by rearranging furniture, re-hanging art and basically “shopping” your own house to shift the energy.
Q: Can you tell me a few of your low cost tips? A: A few tricks of the trade that I’ve come to rely on for big impact are:
· Rearranging furniture and adding lamps or just new lamp shades and pillows or a throw over the back of the sofa
· I like to take the jackets off of hardback books and use them to style (the bindings provide great hits of color) books are a great way for people to learn more about you and I use them a lot for styling
· painting the backs of shelves a dark color to allow the objects and books on the shelves to pop off.
· I love to hang a textured or beautiful wall covering on just one wall which provides a focal point and another layer of beauty or just painting one anchor wall can make it feel like a whole new space. Good design is all about creating layers so when we see an opportunity to do so we jump on it.
The following pictures show a recently completed job in San Leandro, a fresh, soothing mid-century modern home. The construction remodel was done by Welte Construction, a local contractor in San Leandro. Laura said they are a super nice and professional firm.
Fine Art - Made in Oakland
This past summer my husband turned 40. I wanted to give him something special and lasting, so I hired Oakland artist, Sarah HaBa of Rockridge to paint a picture from a photograph. Sarah capture the essence of my family on a wood board and I love it! Check Sarah out online, http://sarahhaba.com
New Listing in Montclair
Can I plug my newest listing? www.1895Manzanita.com This house is perfect for the buyer who wants SPACE, 3409 square feet of space. There is also Golden Gate, Bay Bridge and South Bay views from almost every room. The rooms do say, "I was built in the 1970's" but the lay-out is supreme. Some TLC is needed, but this house is totally move-in ready! Oh, did I tell you the price? $699,000!
Thanks for reading! - Deidre
1895 Manzanita
The Importance of a Structural Engineer
When buying a home in the Oakland - Berkeley area you need to understand that our properties are sought after as many home buyers like that fact that that the majority of our homes are older with tons of charm. When buying a house it is important to thoroughly inspect it before you complete the purchase. It is not uncommon for homes to lie within earthquake fault zones or liquefaction areas, (liquefaction is when the soil beneath a property is loose-sandy soil.) Many homes have settled and have adjusted to the soil conditions that they are located on. On occasion I can tell a property will need a structural engineer inspection as the home shows signs such a sloping, cracking or the way the house is positioned on a hill. Other times it is less obvious and the home inspector will recommend an engineers report. When an engineer is needed, I am always fascinated by the findings of Dan Szumski. Dan is incredibly knowledgeable and really knows are area, often he knows obscure facts about a location. On one inspection at a Montclair property and told us that an old tunnel to Canyon was underground. Another time he told me that a fault line ran under a street, (and after a natural hazard report was order, he was correct!)
The thought of an engineer inspection can scare some, but usually a good engineer will give real solutions for any deficiencies that he or she finds. A few weeks back Dan told my client how he could do some of the seismic retrofit by himself and he even recommended using tools for the tool lending library in Oakland. Inspectors are realistic about older homes and will advise when something should be repaired ASAP, or when it can be done over time. If you have questions about a home you have already purchased you can always have an inspector come out and exam the areas that concern you. Knowledge is key!
Foreclosures Within the USA
Often people ask me if I am still in real estate. The media will paint a picture of doom and gloom. I am not negating the problems, and yes people are struggling. I think it will that sometime before the economy recovers, but this chart shows how resilient the Bay Area is.
How is the Economy? Let's Check In,
Senior Mortgage Consultant and Branch Owner of RPM Mortgage in Berkeley, Chet Gohd's market update:
We saw some encouraging news this morning with the Fed's Beige Book report, its somewhat of a glass half-full scenario with a hole in the bottom of the glass ..First the CNN report, then the Chet update;
The economy has shown signs of stabilizing or modestly improving in recent weeks, according to the latest Federal Reserve snapshot of regional economic conditions. "Reports of gains in economic activity generally outnumber declines," the Fed said Wednesday in the latest edition of its Beige Book. "But virtually every reference to improvement was qualified as either small or scattered." The Beige Book, published 8 times a year, is a summary of economic conditions in the central bank's 12 districts. It precedes, by about two weeks, the central bank's scheduled policy meeting at which interest rate movement is discussed. The housing market and manufacturing activity, which have been improving since the summer, were two bright spots in the October report. However, commercial real estate remains a concern, with all 12 districts reporting weak or deteriorating conditions in that sector. (end of story). For example, the section at Home Depot where they sell "For Lease" signs is sold out and on back order!
It's often challenging to see much improvement on a day-to-day basis. It's easier and usually more reliable to use the data coming from various metropolitan areas throughout the country where the measurements can be weighed and scaled. We are in a complicated situation here..The Fed realizes that they see improvements but they are very small and thus we are vulnerable to falling backward( as opposed to falling forward). For this reason, they are not looking to pull the stimulus infusions back just yet but also may no longer be exploring new forms of stimulation as any program needing governmental approval has to compete with the healthcare debate, a war against terrorism and a midterm election next year.
Eating Through Oakland
I recently investigated a few more restaurants for you! Bocanova has now been open for a month in Jack London Square. I love the dinning room and outdoor seating. The little gem salad was fantastic and my halibut sandwich with onions, peppers and avocado was very satisfying. My friend ordered a few items that I was not a fan of, but I have to give it 5 stars for concept and atmosphere and about 3.5 stars for food. I will definitely go back and next time I have to try the crab deviled egg which is mentioned many times on Yelp!
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Burma Superstar opened this spring in the Temescal district of Oakland and has been on my to-do list for months. Be prepared for a wait, as this is a popular eatery. My cousin was in town from NYC, so the seven of us had to wait an hour for a table. Once we were seated, we had some the best service, ever! I counted 4 different staff members helping us and the service was just flawless. You have to try the green tea leaf salad, the spicy crispy chicken and the salt and pepper calamari. Lucky you if you live in the Temescal and can walk over to this joint!
Aunt Mary's Cafe is the neighborhood spot that I wish was in my neighborhood. Featuring sustainable foods with southern flavor. Come for strong coffee, malted waffles and bubble and squeak, ( potatoes, greens, eggs with a house made biscuit and gravy.) Aunt Mary's is also open for lunch and dinner and it has indoor and outdoor seating with a heat lamp!
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Coming soon to the Temescal is Remedy Coffee. I can't wait to see this coffee house featuring Ritual Coffee that is roasted in San Francisco. (and has a cult following) Constuction is underway and I love the telephone booth that will be stationed within the coffee house. (Wow, when was the last time you used a phone booth?) You can purchase beans and lattes at the outdoor espresso cart while construction is underway.
Free Tools!
So you are not a contractor, but you are a weekend warrior. You decide that you can swing a bathroom remodel, but do not want to invest money into expensive tools, as you will only be using them once or twice. Oakland has a tool lending library in the Temescal district! To borrow tools you need to have a library card and have proof that you live in Oakland, Emeryville or Piedmont , (a utility bill or property tax bill). The tools are free and you can keep them for 3,5 or 7 days depending on the tool. 5205 Telegraph Avenue - 510-597-5089, open Tuesday thru Saturday
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Out and About in Oakland
TomorrowOakland Unwrapped will host, Full Moon Buy Night at Jack London square. Support local business and artisans as they fill the square and sell their wares. Oakland Unwrapped is an Online Marketplace where shoppers can find and buy directly from Oakland-owned independent businesses and artists. In 2008, Oakland Unwrapped became a program of OneCalifornia Foundation, a nonprofit economic development organization in downtown Oakland. Click here for more about Full Moon Buy Night. Artist's such as Scott Courtnay-Smith who creates fine art as well as wearable art. (see his fedora above.)
Enjoy the Bay Area's hot Fall nights with the fourth annual Sunday in the Redwood's Concert Series. There are two weekends left, for more information, click here.
October 4 - Amazing Jazz
October 11 - Neo Soul Experience with Ledisi
Mid-Century Modern Details
My clients Jill and Cory just closed escrow on a 1953 mid-century ranch house in the Oakland Hills. When I first saw this house on the multiple listing service, I knew this house had potential. Homes built in the mid-century typically have steel reinforced foundations and gauging from the information provided, it looked to be a mainly cosmetic fixer. Additionally, many of the cool mid-century details were still intact. I could see past the orange paint and green carpets and I knew this middle-aged rancher was a diamond in the rough. Check out the Nutone doorbell chimes and the vintage mid-century fish tiles in the bathroom. Jill and Cory have agreed to let me share their renovation journey and I will bring you a progress report - photo journal soon.
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Coming Soon to Redwood Heights! Mid-Century Home in the Oakland Hills
In 9 days my newest listing 3253 Jordan Road will hit the Oakland real estate market! To preview this home before it hits the market go to, www.3253Jordan.com. Below is the custom property brochure that was just created for especially for this property. (This brochure will be scored and folded into a small booklet.)
*The attached brochure was created for Deidre Joyner, all rights reserved, by Jenn Kelly
Fab Rockridge Redo!
350 Forest Street in the Rockridge district of Oakland was my favorite house on Broker's Tour last week. This glorious craftsman, has the detailed you want in a vintage home, box-beam ceilings in the dinging room, built-in's and pillars, silky smooth hardwood floors, wood windows, but it has a modern edge with upgrades galore, including scrumptious kitchen and bathroom remodels. This house is listed with my friend and colleague Stefanie Parrott for $989,000. Oh, did I mention that you can sell your car if you buy this pad? You are a block away from Rockridge BART as well as a block away from Market Hall on College Avenue.
The Best Ice Cream in Oakland and Berkeley
The other week, I attended the Eat Real Fest at Jack London Square. To kick off the festival there was an ice cream evening. It wasa 90 degree Friday night, Perfect! Ice cream for dinner. In the name of researchI sampled several scoops of creamy goodness. If I had to pick my last meal on earth it would be ice cream. I partake in ice cream daily, so I think I am an ice cream expert. So here are my top picks!
- St. George Spirits Whiskey Gelato by Gelateria Naia. - unbelievably smooth, with caramel notes. Insane!
- Saffron and Candied Almond Ice Cream by Ici - aromatic and earthy with the fantastic texture of the crunchy nuts.
- Raspberry-Lemon Verbena Ice Cream by Ici - fresh, fruity and the perfect balance between sweet and tart.
Visit Ici at 2948 Ashby Avenue in Berkeley. All of the diary and eggs are organic and flavors change daily and with the season.
Visit Gelateria Naia at 2106 Ashby Avenue in Downtown Berkeley, at 230 Bay Street inside WholeFoods Oakland, or at Michael Mischer Chocolates at 3352 Grand Avenue.
A North Beach Staple is Now Open in Oakland
In the 1950's Giovanni Gianni, (Papa Gianni) moved his family to America and in 1956 opened the first espresso house on the West Coast on Vallejo Street in San Francisco. Now 50+ years later, a cult following and several Bay Area locations, it is fitting that food mecca, Oakland gets a location. Last evening Caffe Trieste had their grand opening party! As I pushed through the jammed packed cafe, I felt has if I were on a movie set. Papa Gianni and the the North Beach Band with the Giotta Family Singers were singing classic Italian songs, glasses were raised, couples were dancing in place, (as there was no room for large movement.) and excitement and joy was in the air. As I looked at the beautiful honey colored wood cabinetry, exposed beams and the shiny stainless steel hood, I couldn't remember what existed before Caffe Trieste moved in. ( I had to ask...this use to be two small store fronts, one was a mailbox shop and I am still not sure of the other business.) With Caffe Trieste open to 10 pm Monday-Thursday and until 11 pm Friday - Sunday, folks will have a relaxing and affordable place for a snack, espresso or glass of vino. Go Oakland!
Oh Julia!
This past weekend I went to see Julie & Julia at the movie theater and I immediately came home and googled Julia Child. Why didn't I know more about her? I went to Culinary School for Pete's sake, I should have a library of her PBS television shows on my bookcase. My father watched a great deal of Saturday morning cooking, so I definitely remember her voice in the background of my life. The movie portrays Julia as a devoted wife who enjoys great food, great wine and butter. The photo above is Julia's Cambridge kitchen in 2001 after it was dismantled and put on display in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. (Everything is from Julia's kitchen except the walls and floors.)
Why am I bringing up Julia Child, her movie and life on my real estate and style blog? Because I love her kitchen! Maybe it is because many great meals were prepared here, but also there is something homey about Kitchen-Aid mixers on the counters and a vast variety of pots and pans hanging on a peg-board. Often the kitchens that we drool over in magazines have sparse counters with bowls of lemons. The kitchens are fantastic, but they do not look lived in. I tried to find out when this kitchen was last remodeled, as I believe Julia hosted 3 different television series in this kitchen, but I had no luck. The green shaker style cabinetry is classic and warm, the large farm style table in the middle of the room is perfect for family gatherings or the ideal place to sit and chop. I never would have thought to hang framed artwork on my cabinet doors, but it all works. The wall oven is a bit big for the cabinet it holds, (making me believe that oven was a newer addition, but the photos of Julia Child's kitchen by Pedro E. Guerrero from 1962 look quite modern.) If any of you know more about the Julia and her kitchen remodels leave a comment!
(Click on the two links above to view cool links.)
Oakland-Berkeley Real Estate at a Glance
At Red Oak Realty, the real estate brokerage I hang my license, most of our agents were busy this summer! At almost every weekly meeting we would discuss the market and talk about the multiple offers that were taking place. Red Oak has about 80 full-time Realtors and does a great deal of the Bay Area production. A few weeks back my office opened 89 escrows within one week! Last week, Red Oak Realtors were both the winning offer and the back-up offer for two properties for sale in Oakland. I love working at an active office, the energy keeps me competitive and I am able to hear many tales of the East Bay real estate underworld. Attached is a chart of the Oakland-Berkeley market from mid-summer, (July 2009 in select zip codes) To obtain current real estate data from a select neighborhood, email me, deidre@redoakrealty.com.
Preparing Your Oakland House For Sale
Currently I am preparing one of my Oakland listings for the market. Here is a snapshot of what I need to do to position this home to receive the most interest.
- If a seller can afford it, it is best to performinspectionsahead of time. By discovering all of the serviceable and non-serviceable areas of a property, a seller has an option to fix a problem or disclose it to a buyer prior to a buyer writing an offer. Many sellers want to sell a house, "as-is". How can a buyer, buy a house "as-is" if they do not know the true condition? (Sorry sellers, true condition does not mean what you experienced while you lived in your house, rather what a licensed professional determined after careful examination.) Currently, I suggest a home inspection if possible, a termite inspection, (a termite inspector searches for damage from wood destroying bugs, water damage, fungus and mold.), I highly recommend a sewer lateral inspection, (a homeowner is responsible for their sewer line until it reaches the city main. Having your sewer in compliance is a city ordinance, (your sewer must be in working order to close escrow) in Berkeley, Alameda, El Cerrito, Richmond, Albany, but not Oakland. However, many Oakland Realtors suggest that a buyer obtain a sewer lateral inspection.)
When buyers discover needed repairs, deficiencies or other problems during an inspection period of an escrow, they tend to ask for a credit for the needed work, ask for a price reduction or they will simply walk away from the transaction. By showcasing a home and disclosing all of the material facts up front, (and asking all buyers to sign off on the inspection reports prior to writing an offer) you set yourself up for a smoother transaction. When representing a seller, I still encourage a buyer to perform their own inspections, so they can be comfortable in their purchase, but I know that the likelihood of new discovery is slim. I just represented a buyer for a home in the Oakland Hills, I had my buyers hire a sewer professional to examine the sewer line and found that the sewer was constructed of terra-cotta that had many open joints, was full of roots, and needed $7700 worth of repairs. Since this was newly discovered information, I negotiated a full credit from the sellers.
- Staging can make your house look like a designer showcase, the stager that I recommend is Bonnie Pearson , she does amazing work that really showcases houses. In today's economy it is difficult for many sellers to afford a professional stager so I work with clients, their belongings, add what I can, and am still able to have successful results! Check out my latest listing, 60Edgemont.com. This property is set to close next week with 7 offers and my seller and I staged it together!
- Elbow grease makes a difference! Whether you do it yourself or hire a professional, clean walls, fresh paint, scrubbed bathrooms and clean windows aid in the sell of your home. In today's market, buyers need a house to make them feel good. When a house is clean, a buyer will stay in the house longer, and this is what a seller wants.
- Price! Yes, the dreaded conversation! I know your house is special and I will showcase it as the best house in the neighborhood, but you have to price a house to bring in buyers. Buyers have access to Zillow.com, Redfin, Trulia, and many other real estate websites. Buyers know exactly what houses are selling for, (there is no fooling a buyer or their agent) and they know when a house is priced too high. It is a National Association of Realtor statistic:
If you under price a house by 5%, 80% of qualified buyers will show up to your house to consider buying it.
If you over price a house by 5%, 30% of qualified buyers will show up to consider buying it. If you over price, you loose 50% of interest!
Every property is different, every client is different, gone is the day where all sellers can afford to move out of their properties, hire help to scour and primp a home. It is important to strategize with a real estate professional who will guide you through the selling process within your budget.
